Box or container for berries and the like



1. P. HICKVIAN AND J. P. HICKIVIAN, 1n.

BOX 0R CONTAINER FOR BERRI'ES AND THE LIKEl APPLICATION FILED DEC. IG, 1919.

jlg@ Patented Aug. 8 1922;,

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 1. P. HICKMAN AND 1. P. HICKMAN, 1R.

BOX 0R CONTAINER FOR BERRIES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICAIION FILED DE()A I6, 1919.

Patented Aug. 8, 11922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

noem T015.

dit., MBUEBY NEW 1392i 0R CQNTAINER FOR BERRXIES AND THE LiKE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

- Patented Aug, 3, i232,

Application filed December 16, 19N. Serial No. 345,262.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that we, JOHN PARKER Hmm MAN and JOHN PARKER HICKMAN, Jr., citizens of 'the United States, residing at Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth and.

State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Containers for Berries and the like, of which the following is a specification.

rllhis invention pertains to an improved basket or box adapted more particularly for the storage and shipment of small fruit, berries and the like, and has for'its main object the production of a sanitary container which may be shipped in' knock-down formand readily set up by the user. A further object of the invention is to construct the box or containerof a material which while being relatively light will nevertheless be of sumcient rigidity to withstand comparatively hard usage. A further object of the invention is to construct the box or container in such manner that it will be impervious to the `uice of the fruit or berries lso that it will e sanitary, the imperviousness enabling one to use the box over and over again if desired.

Heretofore berry boxes have generally been produced from wood or splints and such boxes or baskets can only be used ordinarily a single time, for in certain localities reuse is forbidden by sanitary and police regulations. rll`he presentconstruction avoids such prohibition and while producing a structure which has many advantages over the ordinary wooden berry crate or box, is withall cheaper to make and cheaper to ship inasmuch as the box, as above noted, can be bundled in flat or sheet-like condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for Ventilating the box and consequently the fruit contained therein.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete blank shown in its flattened form;

Fig. 2 a perspective view showing the blank as partially brought to its final form;

Fig. 3 a similar View showing the box in its completed and locked condition;

Fig. 4 a plan view of a blank having a cover attached thereto;

Figs. 5 and 6 perspective views showing the blank in its partial and fully closed positions; and

Fig. 7 a detailed sectional perspective view of the locking means.

ln carrying out our invention we first provide a' blank of paste-board or card-board which is dyed out or cut in the proper shape preferably by suitable mechanism. Such board in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be paratlned in order to render it waterproof, and such ,paraiiining action may be eected prior to cutting the blank from the stock or after the blank is cut out. I

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the blank may, be said to comprise a bottom 1 and two end walls 2 and 3, the said walls being alike in form and the outer marginal portions or edge 4 thereof being parallel with .the line of fold or indentation 5 by which the walls 2 and 3 are connected to the base l. The side walls are denoted, respece tively,by 6 and 7 and are connected to the base along creased or indented lines denoted by 8. Said walls 6 and 7 are of a height equal to each other and to that of the respective end walls 2 and 3. Each of the walls 6 and 7 has connected to it as an integral part thereof, and extending laterally from each, side flaps 9 and 10, said flaps being connected to the side walls along creased or indented lines 11, which lines spread apart as they extend outwardly from the base 1. lncisions 12 are produced in the formation of the blank between the ends of the end'walls 2 and 3 and the adjacent lap sections 9 and 10, such incisions being formed at an angle with reference to the crease 5 so that the end walls 2 and 3 are wider at their outer marginal portions than at their inner portions where they are connected to the base. 'lf/he angle of such incisions with reference to the indented or creased line 5 is the same as the angularity of the creased or indented line l1 with` reference to the indented vor creased line 8 so that when the walls are turned upwardly they all bear the same angular relation to the base.

'As will be seen, the flaps 9 are somewhat longer than the height of the end walls 2 and 3, respectively, and the outer marginal portion 13 of such flaps lie in substantial parallelism with the creased line 5. Moref over, the outer edges 14 of the flaps are given an inward inclination, or, stated in another way, the outer ends of such flaps 'are narrower than the base of the flap whensuch lill@ Y Fig. 3, by cutting vthe end 18 of the flap 10- base is measured along the creased or indented line 11. The edge of said flaps 9 is moreover provided with an incision comprising a strai ht section 15 and shorter sections 16 exten ing inwardly from the main incision 15. The outer edge 17 of each of the flaps 10 has the same angular. relation to the outer and upper edge of the side walls as ydoes the marginal edge 14 of the flaps 9, but

the outer end 18 of each flap 10 is formed at an angle with reference to the margin 4 of the end wall, the innermost end .of the end 18 lying within or below the marginal edge 4, this for a purpose which will presently appear. Each of the flaps 10 is provided with a semicircular incision 19 which forms a tongue 20, which when the blank is folded up forms an interlocking connection with the incisions produced in the Haps 9. The side walls 6 and 7, as well as the base 1, are preferably provided with elongated openings or slits 21'which insure proper ven t1la tion of the contents of the box or contalner.

As above noted, the blanks will preferably be shipped in flatl sheet shaped form and may be readily set up by the user as occasion requires. This can be easily effected by first turning up one of the end walls 2 or 3, thereafter swinging the side walls 6 and 7 upwardly and turning'the adjacent flaps 9 and 10 inwardly against the outermost face of said end wall, then by inserting the thumb between the end wall and the inner faces of the then overlapping flaps and pressing the end wall inwardly slightly one may by placing his finger upon the tongue 20 force the same inwardly against the flap 9 and cause the tongue to enter the slot in said flap and to pass through the same, thereby causing the flaps to become engaged. The outward spring of the end wall, upon the removal of the thumb from between the` wall and the flaps, will cause-the end wall to bear against the flaps and the edges of the end wall will take against the side walls and prevent the flaps from becoming disengaged by pressure applied to the side walls; in other words, the end walls form a brace. rlhe same operation is effected by turning up the other end wall, as for instance 3, in Fig. 2, and turning the adjacent flaps inwardly and bringing them to the locked position as shown in Fig. 3.

By reason of the angularity given to the creases 11 and the angularity of the cuts 12 between the end walls and the flaps, the edges 14 and 17, respectively, of the flaps 9 and 10, will, when the box is brought'toits complete form, stand in alinement with the gper edge 4 of the then upturned end wall. oreover, as will be seen upon reference to away upon an angle, a'sabove set forth, such end will stand ina vertical position with reference to the bottom or'bas'e 1 when the parts are in their locked relation, thus doing away with any excess projection of said Hap which would render such flap more readily engageable with extraneouselements. The end of the flap 9, by reason of the fact that it is somewhat longer, extends inwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to such an extent as to give the structure considerable strength and prevents the tongue from tearing the flap adjacent the slot through which the tongue projects. The resulting box or basket will therefore have an integral single ply bottom 1, two single ply sides 6 and 7, and two triple ply ends composed of the elements 3, 9 and 10.

The term end walls as applied to the elements 2 and 3, and the term side walls vas applied to elements 6 and 7 are relative'and are merely employed in order to avoid confusion in description, for, as will be readily appreciated, where a device isv square in out line one can not sa definitely that one wall is tlllie end wall an the other wall the side wa In Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, a modification of the invention is shown wherein the box is rovided with a cover and a suitable interock therefor, the cover being formed as an integral portion of the structure. The body of the box, including the bottom, side and end Walls, are the same in formation as that heretofore described and the parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. In addition thereto there is provided a cover, the body whereof extends from the margin of one of the side walls, as 7. The 'main portion of the cover is denoted by 22 and is rectangular in outline and hinged to the member 7 alongacreased or indented line 23. The cover moreover is provided with oppositely disposed wings 24 and 25 defined from the body of the cover by creased lines 26. A third flap or wing element 27 is formed at the outermost edge of the blank and ,is

hinged Vto the cover along a creased line 28.

When the parts of the body of the box are brought to their folded position, as heretofore indicated, the cover will stand in the position shown in Fig. 5 and when the box body is entirely formed up or closed one may then bend the flaps 24, 25 and 27 inwardly at right angles to the cover 22 so that said flaps 24 and 25 may pass inwardly between the upstanding end walls 2 and 3 and the adjacent iaps 9 and 10 (see Fig. 6). The outermostfiap 27 of the cover will extend inwardly and will be in contact lwith the inner face of the adjacent end wall 6,

vand preferably said Hap 27 and the end wall 6 will be provided with interlocking means to hold the cover in its closed position. To that end the 'wall 6 is provided with an elongated U-shaped slot or opening 29 form- Leases@ from the creased line 28 and extending 'outwardly toward the edge of the Hap. Said tongue will also be indented or creased along a line, as 32, so that the end thereof may be turned inwardly when the cover is brought to its closed position. When the cover 1s closed and the flap 27 passed inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the tongue 31 will extend outside of the wall 6` and its outer end or that which lies beyond the crease 32 will be turned inwardly and thence passed upwardly through the slot 29 and in contact with the short flap 30, best shown in Fig. 7 This positioning of the tongue and interlocking of the cover is readily eected as the cover is brought to its closed position. All one has to do is to guide the outermost end of the tongue 31 into the slot or incision 29 and as the cover is brought to its final position the outermost end of the tongue will automatically turn upwardly against the short Hap which exerts a spring action thereon and holds it in its locked position. rlhe cover may be readily opened by exerting a slight pressure or upward pull thereon which has a tendency to uncurl the tongue and permit it to withdraw from the opening 29.

While we have shown the box as having a square base, it will be readily appreciated that the box may be made oblong'in form' and that no change in structure would be necessary other than to make the base longer in one dimension than the other and the side walls correspondingly longer. Moreover, while l have shown the box as having a spread from the base toward its upper edge, it will be readily appreciated that the box may be formed square by producing the crease lines 11 and the lines of incision 12 as continuations., respectively, of the crease lines 5 and the crease line 8. The construction shown in detail is, however, preferable as it enables one to nest the assembled boxes and, moreover, provides for ventilation where the yboxes are placed in crates in imposed tiers.

What is claimed is,-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a pasteboard box for berries andl the like, formed from a single blank cut to provide an integral bottom and surrounding sides and ends, the edges of the botto-m being creased to allow the sides and ends to be folded upwardly, and two of the sides being.

transversely creased to produce Hap portions, which fiap portions, when the ends and sides are upwardlyv folded, overlap each other; means carried by such flap portions adapted to engage and hold such flaps in tending flaps adapted to be turned down and passed inwardly into the box and a tongue struck up out of one of the daps and adapted to enter the opening formed in the adjacent wall of the box and to be curled upwardly over and against the inner face of such wall and to interlock therewith to maintain the cover in position.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a pasteboard box for berries and the like, formed from a single blank cut to provide an integral bottom and surrounding sides and ends, the edges of the bottom being creased to allow the sides and ends to be folded upwardly, and two of the sides being transversely creased to produce Hap portions,

which flap portions, when the lends and sides are upwardly Jfolded, overlap each other; means carried 'by such Hap portions adapted to engage and hold suchiaps in position,

lthe end walls forming a brace which tends to prevent disengagement of such engaging means; and a cover formed as an extension of one of the walls, said cover being provided with a Hap at its outermost edge and a tongue struck up out of said iiap, said tongue having an end portion produced by creaslng the tongue transversely, said end portion being arranged to pass into an opening formed in that wall of the box which is adjacent to the tongue when the cover is brought to its closed position, said tongue passing upwardly and embracing the wall in which the opening is formed.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a pasteboard box for berries and the like, formed from. a single blank cut to provide an integral bottom and surrounding sides and ends, the edges of the bottom being creased to allow the sides and ends to be folded upwardly, and two of the sides being vtransversely creased to produce flap portions, which iap portions, when the ends and sides are upwardly folded, overlap each other; means carried by such Hap portions adapted to engage and hold such lia s in position, the end walls forming a race which tends to prevent disengagement of such engaging means; and a cover formed as an extension of one of the walls, said cover being provided with a flap at its outermost edge and a tongue struck up out of said liap, said tongue having a bendable end portion formed by creasing the tongue transversely, said end portion being adapted to be passed inwardly and through a U-shaped slot formed in that wall of the tox which is adjacent to the tongue when the cover is brought to its closed position, whereby the upturned portion of the tongue will embrace the wall in which the U-shaped slot is formed and be held in such position by the spring action exerted thereon by the adjal(gent portion of the wall against which it ears.

rio'A y@ mame@ 4. As a new article of4 manufacture, a adapted to be turned upwardly and passed pasteboard -box for berries and the like, through a slot or opening formed in that formed from a single blank out to provide wall of the box which is adjacent to the an integral bottom and surrounding sides tongue when the cover is brought to its 5 and ends. and a cover formed as an extenclosed position, said tongue embracing the 15 sion of one of the walls, said cover being Wallin which theslot is formed. provided with a flap at that edge opposite In testimony whereof we have signed our itsconnection with the wall, of the box and names to this s eeioation. having a tongue struck up out of said flap, JOHN ARKER HIC'KMAN.

10. the tongue having a bendable end portion JOHN PARKER HICIKMAN, JR. 

